Are you contemplating how to move by April? Are you currently renting and is your lease up in April? Is buying a home on your 2024 to-do list?
Here are some thoughts on how to proceed:
Check Your Lease:
Check your lease and give your landlord proper notice that you’ll be leaving (most require 30-60 days advance notice of non-renewal). That means at earliest you’ll need to provide notice in Feb but possibly in March. Be mindful of dates to keep yourself in compliance with the your lease.
Be Pre-Approved:
Make sure that you are pre-approved. If not–get with a lender to complete this task. Pre-approval is important as it helps you know what you should be able to afford. Further, proof of pre-approval is typically required when you get to the offer phase.
Look at Homes:
Start looking at homes with your realtor. Be realistic about what you need and want in your home and what you can afford. Remember–buying a house may mean costs you are not aware of like property taxes, insurance and HOA and/or CDD fees. Pushing the boundaries pre-approved may lead to a house-poor situation.
Plan for the Future:
If buying isn’t in your plans for 2024–but you would like to buy eventually: think about how you can reduce costs to increase your savings, work with a lender to have a game plan specific to your financial situation and plan for the future.
Final Thoughts on How to Move by April:
Remember that the average residential real estate transaction takes 30-60 days to close. This will likely align nicely with the end of your lease–but be mindful of dates . If you would like to do work to a new-to-you home–you may have a longer timeline to consider. If you are uncertain of timing – another approach can be to take your lease month-to-month (assuming that is permissible with your landlord). One word of caution on the month-to-month front – it buys you flexibility but usually at a premium. Additionally – you will likely still need to give notice (so read those terms and conditions of your lease and any amendments, etc.) carefully.
Are you looking to buy in St. Augustine? Ask me about my listing in the Bridgewater Community. 201 Talulla Trail is brand new and available for a quick close.
In the market for a rental? Ask me about my listing at 572 Coastline Way in the Waterford Lakes neighborhood of SilverLeaf in St. Augustine.